35whttp://www.pcper.com
PC Perspectivehttp://www.pcper.com/images/podcast-logo-600x600.pngenNew Low-Cost 35W Ivy Bridge Processors Cominghttp://www.pcper.com/news/Processors/New-Low-Cost-35W-Ivy-Bridge-Processors-Coming
<p>Back in March of this year, <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Processors/Intel-Ivy-Bridge-Processors-Launch-March-23-2012">Intel launched</a> a slew of third generation Core Ivy Bridge processors. At the high end sat the Core i7-3770K with 4 cores, hyperthreading, 3.5 GHz clockspeed (3.9 GHz Turbo Boost), 8 MB L3 cache, and a 77W TDP for $332. <a href="http://pcper.com/files/news/2012-09-04/Intel logo.png"><img alt="" src="http://pcper.com/files/news/2012-09-04/Intel logo.png" style="width: 150px; float: right; height: 99px; " /></a>The lineup went down in features &ndash; and price &ndash; from there all the way to the Core i5-3330S. The 3330S had four cores, 6 MB of L3 cache, a 65W TDP, and a clockspeed of 2.7 GHz (3.2 GHz Turbo Boost). Further, just about every CPU that was not a K, S, or T edition came equipped with the older HD 2500 integrated processor graphics. While the list comprised 18 new processors, the lower-end Core i3 Ivy Bridge CPUs were noticeably absent.</p>
<p>Fortunately, <a href="http://www.fanlesstech.com/2012/09/5-new-low-tdp-processors-from-intel.html">FanlessTech</a> has managed to get ahold of pricing and specifications for five of those lower cost Intel chips. The new additions to Intel&#39;s lineup include three Ivy Bridge processors and two Sandy Bridge CPUs. Specifically, we have the i3-3240T, i3-3220T, Pentium G2100T, Pentium G645T, and Pentium G550T. All of those parts have a TDP of 35W and are priced very affordably.</p>
<p></p>
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 600px; ">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Model</td>
<td>
&nbsp;</td>
<td>
Cores / Threads</td>
<td>
Clockspeed&nbsp;</td>
<td>
L3 Cache</td>
<td style="width: 10px; ">
TDP</td>
<td>
Launch Price ($USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
i3-3240T</td>
<td>
Ivy Bridge</td>
<td>
2/4</td>
<td>
2.90 GHz</td>
<td>
3MB</td>
<td style="width: 10px; ">
35W</td>
<td>
$138</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
i3-3220T</td>
<td>
Ivy Bridge</td>
<td>
2/4</td>
<td>
2.80 GHz</td>
<td>
3MB</td>
<td style="width: 10px; ">
35W</td>
<td>
$117</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Pentium G2100T</td>
<td>
Ivy Bridge</td>
<td>
2/2</td>
<td>
2.60 GHz</td>
<td>
3MB</td>
<td style="width: 10px; ">
35W</td>
<td>
$75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Pentium G645T</td>
<td>
Sandy Bridge</td>
<td>
2/2</td>
<td>
2.50 GHz</td>
<td>
3MB</td>
<td style="width: 10px; ">
35W</td>
<td>
$64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Pentium G550T</td>
<td>
Sandy Bridge</td>
<td>
2/2</td>
<td>
2.20 GHz</td>
<td>
2MB</td>
<td style="width: 10px; ">
35W</td>
<td>
$42</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Core i3-3240T and i3-3220T are dual core Ivy Bridge processors build on a 22nm process, and are priced at just over $100. The cheapest Ivy Bridge CPU is actually the Pentium G2100T at $75 so the barrier to entry for Intel&rsquo;s latest chips is much lower than it was a few months ago. Intel&rsquo;s second generation Core architecture is still alive and kicking as well with the Pentium G645T and G550T at $64 and $42 respectively.</p>
<p>Two specifications are still unkown: Turbo Boost clockspeeds (if any) and which version of processor graphics these chips will feature. On the graphics front, I think HD 2500 is a safe bet but Intel may throw everyone a curve ball and pack the higher-end processor graphics into the low end units &ndash; which are arguably the (computers) that need the better GPU the most.</p>
<p>Granted, these lower cost processors are not going to give you near the performance of the i7-3770K that we <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Processors/Intel-Core-i7-3770K-Ivy-Bridge-LGA1155-Processor-Review">recently reviewed</a>, but they are still important for low power and budget desktops. Bringing the power efficiency improvements of Ivy Bridge down to under $100 is definitely a good thing.</p>
<p>As far as availability, you can find some of the new low TDP processors at online retailers now (such as the Core i3-3220T), but others are not for sale yet. While I do not have any exact dates, they should be available shortly.</p>
<p><em>How would you put these low TDP dual cores to work?</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Processors/New-Low-Cost-35W-Ivy-Bridge-Processors-Coming" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/Processors/New-Low-Cost-35W-Ivy-Bridge-Processors-Coming#commentsProcessors35wcore i3IntelIvy Bridgesandy bridgeTue, 04 Sep 2012 14:46:54 +0000Tim Verry55266 at http://www.pcper.com